The money not spent
How can states be made to increase spending on education, health?……..Vinati Dev
There are several costs associated with elections in India. There is the tangible cost of administering them and then there is the opportunity cost of what is not achieved because politically expedient mandates and rhetoric manage to mask policy priorities that could transform the lives of millions. Topmost on this list, but yet to be integrated in any major political partys national campaign and mandate, is a one-time, all out focus on adequately funding the social sector health and education. Indeed, here, Indias politicians and policy-makers have thus far not been forced to answer on either absolute outlays or on relative outcomes. That time is now. Further delay will ensure Indias so-called demographic dividend will not be redeemed and our population will continue to be a liability rather than an asset. At 1.3 billion, can this risk be taken?
As far as the matter of outlays is concerned, comparative statistics have consistently shown that India ranks low in terms of per capita health and education spending than peers with similar gross domestic product (GDP), that Indias 1.1 per cent of GDP spent on health is way below the world average of 5.5 per cent and, similarly, also way below the 6 per cent of GDP recommended by the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development. The story is mirrored on education spending.